When I was working as a civil servant, I was found out to be a muscle-brained knight by the princess knight and got sent to the front lines - Episode 162

Episode 162

The ship’s hull rocked heavily, and the emergency alarm continued to blare inside. Jez and the others, who had been eating at the sub-venue, quickly grabbed the railings and looked around in confusion. After an announcement on the ship’s intercom urging non-combatants to evacuate, the crew moved into action all at once. 

Guests from the Garanhorn Kingdom, merchants from the Tushman Kingdom, diplomats, students, and children were being guided to evacuate. Following Governor William Sayler’s announcement of “departure in five minutes,” everyone on board acted swiftly. 

On a typical ship, it would be impossible for several hundred passengers to disembark in five minutes. However, this was the Queen Amentis III, the latest and most advanced ship proudly operated by the Tashman Kingdom, the forefront nation of humanity. 

Immediately following William’s announcement, multiple emergency evacuation ramps extended from the port side deck of the ship. Even so, it was not enough to evacuate several hundred people in just five minutes. As the Garanhorn guests anxiously lined up at the emergency ramps, the crew called out:

“Those who can use body-enhancement magic, please jump directly to the dock!”

The passengers who had descended to the dock were being guided by crew members. At the same time, people from the Tashman Kingdom gathered on the port side of the Queen Amentis III began using body-enhancement magic to jump from the ship to the dock. 

Gentlemen in tuxedos held their daughters, elegant ladies in luxurious dresses held up their skirts, and elderly couples held each other’s hands as they leaped one after another from the deck. Jez and the others also casually jumped from a deck that was about 20 to 30 meters high. Jez and Erin did it without hesitation, Miriam was a bit nervous, Victor observed the ship’s facilities with interest, and Seraphina was astonished at the Tashman Kingdom’s normalcy.

The sight of several hundred passengers in party attire leaping from the luxurious ship and soaring high was spectacular. 

The coast guard of the Garanhorn Kingdom and the townspeople, who were assisting with the evacuation from the dock, watched the scene in astonishment. However, for the people of the Tashman Kingdom, using body-enhancement magic to jump from such a height was nothing remarkable. 

In a country where everyone is a soldier and the battlefield is a constant presence, the Garanhorn Kingdom’s people re-realized the absurdity of their neighbor, the Tashman Kingdom. 

Exactly five minutes after William’s intercom announcement, the Queen Amentis III let out two loud blasts of the horn and the combat magic engines roared to life.

“Governor, the evacuation of non-combatants is complete!”

Upon hearing this in the bridge, William nodded and exchanged glances with Katarina and Captain Ferdie.

“All personnel, assume first-class combat readiness!! Queen Amentis III, launch!!”

The giant ship, pure white in color, began to slowly depart from the dock.

・　・　・

“Seriously, evacuating non-combatants in five minutes is insane,” 

Jez muttered, watching the Queen Amentis III as it pulled away from the dock. Hearing this, Seraphina responded:

“Isn’t that something we should be saying? I thought I was somewhat accustomed to this country, but this situation really makes you realize its enormity.”

As she spoke, Seraphina glanced at a group of elderly people, likely in their 60s or 70s. They were chatting a short distance away with a rather uneasy expression. Those elderly folks had also jumped off the deck as if it were the most natural thing. An old man, who appeared gentle, suddenly unleashed high-purity body-enhancement magic. 

The elderly lady next to him also used a similar body-enhancement spell. They were probably former soldiers or something of the sort. Seraphina felt a bit unnerved seeing them appear more capable than the average new recruit.

The dock was chaotic, but there were almost no injuries. A few from Garanhorn had minor scrapes from escaping down the ramps. From here, they would move to evacuation facilities prepared by Garanhorn or to the Tashman Kingdom’s embassy.

“Hm? Victor, what’s wrong?”

Jez noticed Victor’s reluctance to move. His alternating gaze between the Queen Amentis III and the river, so he asked.

Victor, still intently staring at the river, replied seriously:

“Jez, if things keep going like this, that ship won’t be able to depart properly.”

・　・　・

After disembarking all non-combatants, the Queen Amentis III attempted to leave the Capriasia dock at full speed, but:

“…Captain!? We can’t depart due to the influence of monster carcasses!?”

The Garanhorn Kingdom’s coast guard was intercepting small to medium-sized monsters surging towards the shore. However, due to their efforts and the large monsters coming in from offshore, the carcasses of monsters had piled up at the dock. 

As a result, numerous monster carcasses accumulated around the dock and the area surrounding the Queen Amentis III. While minor obstacles could be navigated around, maneuvering in this location was quite challenging with the ship still alongside the dock.

On the right side of the Queen Amentis III, the naval forces commanded by Katarina Saylor had already begun attacking the swarm of monsters. But there weren’t enough hands to manage getting the ship out.

While William and Captain Ferdie were devising countermeasures, a voice called out:

“…Governor!! Captain!! High magical energy detected from the left side of the dock!!”

The bridge crew hurriedly looked to the left side of the dock. There, they saw:

“…Are those students? …Erin and the others!”

Five students were on the dock. A female student in a pure white dress was deploying multiple layers of enhancement magic through holy magic, while male and female magic tool users appeared to be further amplifying the magic and circulating the magical energy.

Erin, with her blue dress fluttering, controlled the vast amount of magical energy and directed it. All the magical energy was concentrated into the right fist of a male student in a tuxedo. The intense crackling of the massive magical energy seemed almost audible on the bridge. The student’s gaze was fixed on the river and the mound of monster carcasses floating there.

Understanding the plan, William shouted:

“All personnel, brace for shock!! After the magical attack, move out at full speed through the attack path!!”

Immediately after William’s command, the male student swung his fist imbued with enormous magical energy. With a thunderous roar as if lightning had struck, and a brilliant flash, a clear path through the river was created.

Immediately afterward, with the captain’s orders, the Queen Amentis III moved at maximum output. It charged through the turbulent waters along the newly created path.

The blond-haired student in the tuxedo wielded a glowing fist and split the river. He allowed the pure white giant ship to proceed along that path.

The Garanhorn Kingdom’s people could only watch in stunned silence at the sheer display of brute force.